A Quebec water bomber fighting the wildfires in Los Angeles was grounded after colliding with a drone that was flying in restricted airspace, officials said.
L.A. County Fire Department (LACoFD) said on social media that Quebec’s Super Scooper was hit by a civilian drone that was not assigned to the Palisades fire.
The plane, Quebec 1, “sustained wing damage and remains grounded and out of service,” they wrote.
No injuries were been reported.
The LACoFD released a photo of the plane showing a hole in the front of one of its wings.
The mid-air collision is currently under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration, which said the firefighting plane landed safely.
The LACoFD says it is a federal crime to fly a drone in the midst of firefighting efforts.
SuperScooper grounded after drone strike pic.twitter.com/a7ApxeNHm1
— L.A. County Fire Department (@LACoFDPIO) January 10, 2025
Two CL-415 planes are sent to California each year from Quebec, under a 31-year-old agreement between their respective governments. CL-415 firefighting aircraft are used to pick up more than 1,500 gallons of seawater to drop on active fires.
The province has sent a firefighting team of 25 pilots and 20 technicians to Los Angeles.
On Friday, Quebec’s Public Security Minister François Bonnardel wrote on social media that at the request of the American authorities, the province will send two additional air tankers and their crews starting on Jan. 15.
“In total, Quebec’s assistance allows California to count on 4 air tankers. During the terrible wildfire season in 2023, we were able to count on the help of our allies around the world. It is important to do the same with our neighbours to the South,” he wrote on X.
